FHA Requirements
Debt-to-Income Ratio Guidelines
In order to prevent homebuyers from getting into a home they cannot afford, FHA requirements and guidelines have been set in place requiring borrowers and/or their spouse to qualify according to set debt to income ratios. These ratios are used to calculate whether or not the potential borrower is in a financial position that would allow them to meet the demands that are often included in owning a home.
The two ratios are as follows:
1) Mortgage Payment Expense to Effective Income
Add up the total mortgage payment (principal and interest, escrow deposits for taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance premium, homeowners' dues, etc.). Then, take that amount and divide it by the gross monthly income. The maximum ratio to qualify is 31%.
See the following example:
2) Total Fixed Payment to Effective Income
Add up the total mortgage payment (principal and interest, escrow deposits for taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance premium, homeowners' dues, etc.) and all recurring monthly revolving and installment debt (car loans, personal loans, student loans, credit cards, etc.). Then, take that amount and divide it by the gross monthly income. The maximum ratio to qualify is 43%.
See the following example:
Please note that the above indicators do not exclusively determine whether or not a candidate will qualify for an FHA loan. Other factors will be considered, including credit history and job stability.
FHA Loan Requirements
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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
May 5, 2024 - If you want to buy a home or build one on your own lot with an FHA mortgage, there are distinct phases in your journey toward home ownership. One phase is the initial planning and saving you need in order to prepare for closing costs, the down payment, and other expenses.
May 3, 2024 - Are you considering refinancing your home with an FHA 203(k)? No matter what kind of construction or renovation project you have in mind, there are some guidelines each of these have in common that you should know about before getting started.
May 1, 2024 - Do you want to pay off a 15-year or 30-year FHA mortgage ahead of schedule? One of the perks of an FHA mortgage for a single-family home is that FHA loan guidelines do not permit the lender to charge you a penalty just for paying the mortgage off ahead of schedule.
April 29, 2024 - U.S. News and World Report published an article in April 2024 that included data from a U.S. News survey of American mortgage trends this year. In that survey, nearly 70% of house hunters who responded say they are waiting for home loan interest rates to fall before buying a house this year.
April 28, 2024 - Buying in cash does not necessarily mean you will get a big discount on the house. It’s all the same to the seller, who gets their money, either way. In more competitive housing markets, the cash offer is more appealing to some because it may work faster than dealing with a lender.
